The Otter Cove

The Old St. Angela Inn
Pacific Grove, CA
September 2 - 3, 2012

Who doesn't love Monterey and Pacific Grove? This is why hubby and I keep coming back here. Of course, the ever-reliable TripAdvisor led me to this adorable Bed and Breakfast.  I immediately fell for its charm just by browsing their website.  And I loved it even more once I got there.

We were appointed the Otter Cove Room which has its own entrance from the garden.

Our French country cottage-inspired bedroom is just darling. It is sprinkled with antique furnishings and the bed fittingly accented with a cute teddy bear. It's quite comfortable, well-kept, and very clean.

My favorite feature of this cozy room is the bay window overlooking the garden.

Somehow I convinced hubby to pose by the window seat for this picture.  He was distracted and couldn't be peeled away from his cell phone. I doubt he even remembers this moment.  Men!

The garden courtyard, though petite, provides areas for quiet time and relaxation: a bistro set by the mini waterfall or the small seating around the fire pit.

There is something so peaceful about this place.  After reading more about its history, I learned that it was originally a country home in 1910 and was later converted into a convent in 1920.

Breakfast here is another pleasurable experience. At The Old St. Angela Inn, a breakfast buffet is served in a solarium that also overlooks the garden and patio. I love being washed in natural morning sunlight and I always enjoy a big breakfast so this is perfect for me.  A gracious lady warmly greeted us and said, "This morning we have egg strata with roasted bell peppers and artichokes." Did I already say that they also served scrumptious apricot muffins? I didn't leave a single crumb on my plate. Mom would have been proud of me.

Another big plus about this place is its prime location.  It is literally a block away from the water.   

In no time, you can take a leisurely stroll along the shoreline to soak up the beauty of Monterey Bay. Or chum around with the "locals."

Off The Grid

Almay Ranch
August 31 - September 2, 2012

This is only a piece of the "square mile of absolute heaven" where we stayed.

I come from a large family and it's not easy to find a vacation spot that caters to all of our needs. But this year, we discovered the perfect getaway destination. Almay Ranch in Coffee Creek, California is a secluded 655-acre property nestled in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. During our visit, we had the entire place to ourselves.

With no cell service or WiFi in the area, we were completely unplugged from the modern world.  There was a big screen TV but you could only watch DVDs.  There is no cable connection nor network TV available.  So for three days, all we did was kick back, enjoy the outdoors, and get back to nature.

The ranch includes a large 2 story house with 6 bedrooms/3 baths and a one-bedroom tree house that accommodated all 20 of us plus 2 dogs. The main house overlooks a lake where we took turns in the canoes and paddle-boats.

There were so many options available for recreation.  Within the ranch is a private 9-hole golf course, several hiking trails, lakes, ponds, and creeks.  A short walk (or you could say a quick bide ride) from the main house is a wide open meadow where all of us, kids and adults alike, played a little bit of everything:  baseball, football, soccer, frisbee. For giggles, we even played the egg toss game.  That was a riot!

There's also a mini golf course, an area for horseshoe toss, and badminton. I'm serious. You couldn't possibly run out of things to do here. Further out, there was even a big fire pit where we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.

Ah yes, life is good! We spent a good deal just relaxing and doing our favorite things. Top on the list:  eating, taking a nap, having a nice glass of wine, stretching out on the chaise lounge, and soaking in the gorgeous views. We took a ton of pictures. The surroundings were just incredible. I mean, just look at these images.

This place is so conducive to bonding that I was almost sad to leave at the end of our long weekend. But I know that even if we didn't choose to come here, it would all be the same. We already are a tight knit family. So it doesn't matter where we decide to go.  As long as we're all together, we'll definitely have a fun time.

A Whale of A Tale

August 2009

It was our lucky day. I had previously planned on whale-watching while in Victoria Island. But we witnessed a whale breach sooner than I expected.

We were traveling via Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria Island. After only about 20 minutes into our journey, the ferry unexpectedly slowed down. There was already a commotion when the tour guide directed us to look to our right.  That's when we saw a whale's black fin in the waters.  I'm glad I didn't blink because this same orca suddenly rose straight up and showed its white belly.  The awe-struck tour guide explained that this is called a "spy hop" -- when a whale rises above the ocean to search for its prey. Going after the seal it had found, the whale immediately dove back into the water, devoured its dinner, and then vanished just as swiftly.

The tour guide was quick to say that even he had never seen this first-hand.  But it all happened so fast that I wasn't able to take a photo.  Sorry.

However, we did manage to go on an official whale-watching adventure while in Victoria. That's how we spotted Ruffles.  Look closely at his fin and you'll understand how he earned his nickname.

His crooked fin reminds you of Ruffles Potato Chips.

We joined a small group via this tour company.

Jeff, the owner and tour operator of Emerald Sea Adventures

Up close and personal with a killer whale.

Feeling more like an astronaut rather than a whale watcher.

We also found these seals that were "thermal regulating."

Translation:  sun-bathing.

Saddle Road

Yes, this was in Hawaii!

We found out from a Hilo local resident that Saddle Road was a faster route to take if you're driving from Hilo to Kona. What we also discovered were the beautiful sights along the drive -- sights that were atypical of what you might expect in a Hawaiian island. But these are only a few of the many surprising wonders that the Big Island offers.

The Gauchos Keep Coming!

Texas de Brazil
August 2, 2009

An all-you-can-eat meat buffet? Oh, we’re so there!

The first time I heard about Texas de Brazil - Churrascaria or Brazilian Steakhouse (http://www.texasdebrazil.com/) was from a friend who lives in Florida. She posted pictures in her Facebook account and described how she enjoyed her overall experience there. It sounded so much fun and interesting that when Texas de Brazil opened up in Town Square in Las Vegas, I immediately added it to my “restaurants to visit” list.

I told my husband and stepson that I wanted to go to this “all-you-can-eat meat” buffet place. No further convincing was required. They were ready to go!

The modern day steakhouse was lively with music and people stirring. A lovely hostess led us to a semi-private section. Our reserved table was brightened up by elegant blue water goblets. To the right of each plate setting was a mini tong that rested on a round red card. Our friendly waitress explained that when we were ready for the “meat feast,” all we had to do was turn the card over and show the green side. That would signal the gauchos to come to our table. The gauchos are the meat carvers carrying two-foot long skewers of meat specialties for our taking. As long as the card is green, they will keep coming. The tong was to be used to pull the portions off the skewer.

To start us off, our waitress gave us Brazilian house-baked cheese bread. You could tell it was fresh from the oven: warm, soft and tasty with the cheese filling. Next, we checked out the 50-item seasonal salad bar that included appetizers, soup, salads, and sides. I had a little of everything. I couldn’t resist the lobster bisque soup, heart of palm, artichokes, roasted bell peppers and zucchini. I also tried items that I’ve never had before like the Peruvian or Brazilian salad. But popular favorites were available too like Carpaccio, Romaine lettuce, asparagus spears, sautéed mushrooms, tomatoes and mozzarella balls. So, picky eaters are covered. They were all yummy!

As soon as I finished my starters, I flipped my card to green. No sooner did the gauchos come flocking to our table! I was wrong to think that it would take them a while to come around carrying the meat-filled skewers. I must say, I was overwhelmed when offered filet mignon, BBQ pork ribs, parmesan chicken, lamb, pork loin, chorizo sausage and more. Oh my! But the one to remember is the signature sirloin called “picanha” which was a melt-in-your-mouth sirloin steak!

While we were there, I noticed that the restaurant staff moved about non-stop. The service was remarkable! It showed that the staff loved their jobs and were proud to be there. I glanced at the other tables around. There were a lot of big groups at long tables. But big or small parties, they were all having a great time at this “churrascaria.”

This truly is a meat-lovers heaven. My family and I agreed that we would have to come back and experience this all over again!

Dancing in Doggie Heaven

June 29, 2009

She was a lovely Keeshond, a mid-sized dog that looked like a cross between a German Spitz and a very subdued wolf. She had the prettiest face (and she knew it too) and had a plush coat of gray and black fur -- thus, she was given the name Ashes.

Oh, she made the greatest family pet. We used to joke that because she was so tame, she would probably lick a burglar to death. We thought we lost her once and that created quite a stir in the house. Come to find out, she had locked herself in the bathroom. But she just sat there silently -- no barking nor scratching on the door. She just waited for us to find her. When we finally did, she happily jumped up, flipped her tightly curled tail, and panted wildly with tongue hanging from her smiling milk mouth.

Who wouldn't be fond of this sweet creature that I call a furball? She wants to constantly be around people. Whenever my husband and I are cuddled in front of the TV, she would inject herself and stick her nose between us as if to say, "Hi guys! Remember me?"

But that was years ago. At almost 13 years old, Ashes suffered from arthritis and began to have "accidents" inside the house. Apparently, she was in so much pain that she couldn't muster the strength to go outside and "do her business." Recently, she became very lethargic and thirsty all the time. We soon discovered that she had developed diabetes. At that point, we made the commitment of giving her insulin shots twice a day. On schedule. No fail.

Then we noticed how the medication caused her to lose her sense of sight. I would call out her name and oddly, she would turn the other way. It made me sad to look in her clouded eyes and not see my reflection in them. Her blindness caused her to seem disoriented at times, bumping into walls, or walking in circles. It broke my heart to see her in this sorry state. So we made the difficult decision to finally put her down.

The lady vet arrived at our house promptly at 10 am. She was wearing scrubs and held what looked like a big toolbox. Just the sight of her already brought tears to my eyes and I had to grab a box of tissues. To prepare us for the inevitable, she walked us through the process and carefully explained every detail we should expect.

Following her instructions, my husband and I flanked Ashes on each side and stroked her lovely hair. Meanwhile, my stepson placed a bowl of food in front of her -- all part of the distraction so that the vet could inject Ashes with anesthesia from behind. The lady vet said it would take about 3 minutes and then she stepped outside to give us some privacy.

Ashes immediately gobbled up that food, gnawing and licking excitedly...and then slowly, ever so slowly, she drifted off to a deep sleep. My heart sank and I started to sob in unison with my family. We muttered our parting words and continued to caress her.

Minutes later, the lady vet returned and shaved Ashes' leg in preparation for the next procedure. Throughout this process, she kept explaining that Ashes was totally unconscious to know or feel what was happening. I knew that she was just trying to comfort us with her words but I wanted her to just shut up. I completely understood what was happening. "Please, no need for you to state the obvious," I wanted to say.

In the middle of the vet's blabbing, Ashes suddenly appeared awake and looked like she was chewing on a giant invisible bone. She was having a seizure which, the lady vet explained, was not unusual. More anesthetic was induced. When we confirmed that we were ready, she pulled out a thick syringe filled with what resembled pink lemonade. She patted the shaved area of Ashes' leg with her forefinger and then gave her the final shot. Using a stethoscope, she later confirmed that Ashes was gone.

Our next guest was an elderly man from the Pet Crematorium. Unobtrusively, he walked into our home with a folded velvet blanket under his arm. "Do you need a few more minutes?" he asked almost in a whisper. When I answered, "We're ready," he put a tag on Ashes' right leg which I held and caressed one last time. The identifying tag was to ensure that we correctly get back the remains of our pet. "With your permission, I'd like to put a bag over her," he once again said in a faint voice. I nodded as I wiped my tears and blew my nose. I helped lift Ashes into the bag. Her lifeless body was by now beginning to lose warmth. Then the compassionate man proceeded to wrap Ashes with the velvet blanket and gently carried her away.

I knew all along that I would miss her so much. But last night, the grief just ambushed me and I started to sob away again. How I cried at the painful thought that she will no longer be rushing out to greet me when I come home.

Friends and family who knew Ashes sent words of condolences, my favorite of which was: "She's in doggie heaven, running around like the active young puppy she once was. She's now making a mess eating her meal up in the clouds instead of in your laundry room. No more pain, no more blindness."

Shimmy, Shimmy, Shimmy!

I went to a belly dancing class yesterday and had a great experience. I had no expectations of the class at all. I knew I was going to learn how to shimmy and do the belly roll...and have fun while I was at it. But the unique class helped me feel...well, sexy and comfortable in my skin! The teacher's focus was more on the enjoyment of it all. She encouraged the women to "expand their feminine beauty and creativity." What a wonderful form of release!

I came a little late (my darn TomTom gave me the wrong directions) but my friend, Robin, said it was no biggie. The class had already begun and there were about a dozen ladies in the dance studio. I went straight to the back and kicked off my shoes.

"You need to grab one of these," Robin said pointing to her costume and then led me to a pile of different colored scarves at one end of the room. I picked up a white chiffon material, fringed with coin-like embellishments, and wrapped it around my hips. The coins jiggled with my movements as I followed Robin to our spot in the back row of students.

The ladies all around me were wearing hip scarves themselves and had just learned to slide their heads left and right while their hands were over their heads, palms together. The dance instructor demonstrated other fun steps like the shoulder shimmy, while stepping forward and then back. Or the hip toss, alternating left and right, while circling wrists gracefully. Then we came to the tummy roll. Ummm...I missed the earlier instruction on how to do that correctly.

Goldie, the instructor, must have noticed how I was desperately trying get it right. She gestured for me to stand next to her while she showed me step by step the proper way to do it. She asked me to push out my behind while extending my chest forward. Then in a slow serpentine manner, lift my chest...lean back...and contract (as though someone had pushed down on my chest)... and then do it all over again. It felt really great once I got the hang of it!

My favorite step was the hip roll. You stand with one foot forward (on ball of foot). Arms up above your head, back of hands almost touching, fingers relaxed. Then you slowly push out your hip and make a wide circular motion with it. It's like the Tom Jones' grind. Then you repeat with the other hip. Oh yeah! It was so much fun!

The finale: Each of us had to dance free form underneath a blanket size scarf that is being held up by the other ladies. One by one, we took our turns doing our own belly dance moves underneath this chiffon cloud. To show support, we had to cheer each other on by yelling "Yella Yella Habibi!" which means "Come on" or "Let's go baby!" It's like the Middle Eastern version of limbo rock.

The Saguaro

Carnegiea gigantea

a.k.a. the saguaro cactus

I've taken road trips from Phoenix to Las Vegas many times but never really thought about the saguaro much until my recent trip. It just occured to me that I don't see this type of cactus in the Las Vegas desert. Naturally, I began to look it up to satisfy my curiosity.

To pronounce "saguaro" correctly, say "suh-WAHR-oh." It is a large, tree-sized cactus species that grows only in the Sonoran Desert, one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. Also known as the Gila Desert, the Sonoran Desert sits in the US-Mexican border and covers parts of Arizona, California, and the Mexican states Sonora and Baja California. Here you will find many unique animal and plant species such as the saguaro cactus.

Some of these saguaros grow really tall. I read that it takes about 75 years before it even grows an arm! They have a very long life span and sometimes can live for more than 150 years.

I found a great resource for answering common questions such as where and how do they grow or why are they pleated. Simply click on this link to learn more: http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/The%20Saguaro%20Cactus.pdf

Won't You Take Me To Dodgertown?

Ah yes, baseball is in the air! What better way to enjoy Spring Training season than to visit the newly opened 141-acre complex called Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. This state-of-the-art facility is the new Spring Training headquarters for the Dodgers and the White Sox.

As my husband and I approached the complex, the jolly sound of steel drums grew louder. It seemed as if the lively Carribean beats were being played by a Baseball Pied Piper who is luring fans of the sport and promising them a day of enjoyment. The day couldn't have been more beautiful in baseball wonderland: sunny with blue skies, calm winds, and a high of 88 degrees.

Walking past the main gate, we made our way to the genuine MLB merchandise store FIRST and got us some Dodger hats and shirts. (Of course!) Then I had to stop for some grilled corn-on-the-cob, brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with seasoning salt. (Just couldn't resist.) Finally, we followed a winding pathway to the stadium to find our seats. The Dodger players were already warming up on the field. I ran to take a picture of Ethier (ooh, Ethier!), Kemp, and Pierre. (I almost lost my hat in the process!)

The place was just gorgeous and everyone around was friendly and in good spirits. The lemonade vendor walked up and down the stands yelling "GIT yer ICE cold LEMonade...RIGHT herrree..." while I was busy digging into my backpack for all my gadgets: camera, videocam, and camera phone. Thank goodness I sat next to a Whoopi Goldberg look-alike who was happy to take our picture.

The are 13 full baseball fields in this facility: 6 for each team plus the 10,000-seat main stadium. A man-made lake in the middle of the property separated the Dodger team practice fields from those of the White Sox.

We returned the next day as early as 9 am so we could watch the players practice. It was amazing to be among these great MLB players up close! Players like Manny Ramirez and Russell Martin were just a few feet away from us. Funny how their warm-up exercises -- stretching in the outfield, catching and throwing drills, and batting practice --were not any different from those performed by college baseball players.



Amidst all this excitement, little miss mini bladder here wandered into a building looking for the ladies room. In the hallway, I walked up to a man wearing a badge. "Which way to the restrooms?" I asked and he politely gave me directions. The restrooms were clean and regular-looking. But on my way out, I began to think that there was something peculiar about the place.

I saw a media room where two young uniformed players were reviewing a video tape. Across was another room that had a big green screen and a professional camera in front of it. This place is a bit odd, I thought. I glanced around and to the left of the hallway I found a cafeteria, a therapy room (with rows of massage tables), and a gym. To the right of the hallway, I noticed...(gasp!) the Manager's Office...(double gasp!) the Coaches Lounge, and...(triple gasp!) the Players' Locker Room! OMG! I was in the Dodger Clubhouse!

Later on, I found out that officials told my husband to shoo when he happened to stand in front of the pathway leading to the building. He was told that only those with proper credentials are allowed in the area. I still don't know how I got there or how I didn't get kicked out right away.

As the players left the practice fields, we joined the fans in approaching them them to take their pictures and request for autographs. My husband asked me if I wanted a picture with Furcal. "Where is he?" I asked with wide eyes and then hurried to the spot where he pointed. I couldn't believe that the Major League player leaned close to me (we were almost cheek to cheek) for the shot!

"Ugh! My eyes are closed!" I cried when I reviewed the photo. But that's not all. I later realized that it wasn't even Furcal. It was Xavier Paul. But hey, he's still a Dodger!

Captivating Coraline

Valentine's Day

Everything we did during Valentine's Day this year was different. It wasn't that we did anything extraordinary. Just non-traditional. So was the choice of movie that we decided to see. The little child in me, who enjoys animation like no other, kept bugging Alan to see Coraline. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have given in. But since it was "Love Day," he relented. (Hooray!)

Coraline, based on the award-winning children's classic by British author Neil Gaiman, is a story about a young girl's adventure. Having moved to a new home, she discovers a secret world where things were seemingly perfect. When this alternate world turns perilous, Coraline uses her determination, wit, and bravery to battle her way back home.

The 3-D movie was a product of a team of animators led by director Henry Selick, who likes "unusual and scary animation." Through their clever use of stop motion and puppetry, their hand-crafted miniature puppets, props, and sets vividly brought to life the words and the storytelling of author Neil Gaiman.

Right from the beginning of the movie, I was transfixed. Everything looked so real…like you can almost touch and feel everything you see. It’s as though you were physically there with Coraline. Unlike Wallace and Grommit films, the characters’ movements in this movie are much smoother and more true-to-life.

There were parts of this fantasy/adventure that reminded me of Alice in Wonderland. It was surreal and at times absurd…but always enchanting. Also typical of Henry Selick’s animated films (think “A Nightmare Before Christmas”), the presentation of this fairytale nightmare was spellbinding even if at times dark and creepy.

Completing the overall effect was the music. They had children's choirs from Budapest and Nice providing vocals that enthralled you and transported you to this incredible and magical world.

Reading about the making of this film helped me to appreciate it even more. Would you believe it took 3 years of hand-making? Everything...the set, the costumes, the puppets...everything was handmade! Check out this video. Please excuse the 15 seconds of commercials. Click here to "meet the cast."

The official website's introduction describes it best:
“You’re about to enter a world where everything you’ll see has been created by hand…like a forest of cherry blossoms made from painted popcorn.”